Tool



' composing the layers are connected to their Patented Apr. 14, 1931 ,UNITED STATES PATENT oFF-ICE WILLIAM FBEDBICX HAACX, 0F BEBWYN, ILLINOIS, ASISIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK TOOL Application led October 15, 1926. Serial No. 141,721.

This invention relates to tools, and more particularly to tools for separatinor closely confined and compacted assemblies o? layered material.

5 It is the practice in telephone exchanges, for example, to connect the switchboardswith the cables terminating in the exchange by a cable assembly comprising a plurality. o1 rows of separate layers of cables, the several layers comprising each row being unbound and arranged in close contact one with the other in vertical order at the rear of the switchboard in close relation thereto and extendingr longitudinally thereof. The individual conductors of the different cables respective terminals on the sw-itchboard frame by a short length of conductor, the

ported upon open racks. The short lengths of conductors connecting the cable assembly and the terminals on the switchboard frame may, in some cases, due to various causes, become disconnected or broken and to repair them the cables must be separated sufiiciently to gain access to the area of the needed repair. ltv 1s also sometimes desirable to separate the cables in order to more easily inspect the connections between the conductors and the cables. 5

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved tool for readily and efficiently separating closely coniined and compacted assemblies of layered material.

In accordance with the general features of this invention there is provided in one embodiment thereof a wedging tool comprising two telescopic members which form a very fiat wedge when in a closed position, the members being provided with means for regulating the separation therebetween comprising an oppositely threaded compound screw operatively connected to the members and providing means. whereby the wedging tool may be opened or closed by opposite rotations of the screw.

Other objects and advantages of this invention willmore fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connecwhole multiple cable assembly being suption with the accompanying drawings, in which .A

Fig. 1 is a side View of a Wedging tool ernbodying the features of this invention, partly in section and shown in its operated or open position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view thereof, partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a schematic View,` partly in secl vin close contact with each other invertical and horizontal layers and extending longitudinally of a telephone apparatus (not shown).

The individual conductors of the cables of the assembly are connected to their respective terminals on the switchboard frame by short length conductors shown as extending from the left side of the cable as sembly. The cable assembl is supported on a horizontal shelf carried y upright members.

The wedging tool of this invention preferably consists of two pointed channel members 10 and 11 which, when in a closed position as shown in Fig. 3, are telescoped in order to form a wedge of minimum thickness in order to facilitate entry of the wedge between the layers of the multiple cable. In the channel member 10 there is mounted a compound screw 12 which is journaled in supports 13 and 14 securely fastened in the channel member by any suitable means, as by screws. The compound screw 12, the threads of which run in opposite directions, carries nuts 16 andl' which are moved simultaneously in opposite directions upon the operation of the screw, which movement may be effected by means of an operatin mecha l nism shown in Fig. 2 and which wilA be hereinatter described in detail. On each nut 16 and 17 there is pivotally mounted a pair of levers 18, 19, and 20, 21, respectively. The opposite ends of the levers are pivoted to the side fianges of the channel member 11 by means of pins 22 and 23 which are slidably arranged in slots 24 and 25 as shown 1n Fi 1. Each pair of levers 18, 19, and 20, 21 1s associated with a pair of camming members or 'arms 26, 27, and 28,29, respectively. The camming arms are pivoted on headed pins 40, 41, 42, and 43, respectively, secured to the ianofes of the channel member and normally held in engageable relation with the free end portions of their respective associa-ted levers and are drawn by means of -tension springs and 31 which resilientlyhold the camming arms against the bottom surface of channel member 10 as shown in Fig. 1 when the wedge is o en, thus holding them position ready to e engaged by their respective levers upon closure of the wedge.

The compound screw 12 is held against longitudinal movement in the supports 13 and 14 by means of end thrust collars 32 and 33 which may be secured to the body portion of the screw in any well known manner, as by screws. To the right end of the screw 12 is `keyed a ratchet wheel 34, provided. with "pressed pawl 35. This pawl is slidably and' square teeth for engagement with a spring rotatably arranged in a crank arm 36 loosely mounted on the end portion of the screw 12 adjacent the ratchet wheel 34. The crank 36 is held in position by an end thrust bearing consisting of a flat washer 37 and a nut 38. The pawl 35 is provided at one end w1th an enlarged knurled portion 39 for manually rotating the pawl, while the opposite end ofthe pawl is so shaped that it will slide over the teeth of the Wheel 34 in one direction and engage the teeth to rotate the wheel in the opposite direction. The knurled portion 39 permits moving the pawl into position to render the movement of the crank 36 in either dcsired direction effective, whether for opening or closing the wedgingl tool.

The manner in which a multiple cable assembly maybe separated by means of the tool of this invention is as follows The wedge in its closed position is inserted in a direction transversely of the cables by manually pushing and working it into position and, as shown in Fig. 3, has been partly introduced between the layers of the multiple cable it is desired to separate, while the position thereof indicated in dotted outline shows it fully introduced and read for operation. The pawl 35 is then rotate into position to render the movement of crank 36 effective to turn the screw 12 for moving the nuts 16 and 17 toward one another. The movement of nuts 16 and 17 forces the free end portions of the levers 18, 19, 2O and 21 against their respective associated camming arms 26, 27, 28

and 29 which, due to the angle of contact they make with their associated levers, deviate the levers from their ineffective position to start the opening of the wedge members. The levers are moved by the cammingarms a small angular distance after which they become directly responsive to the action of the screw to the maximum opening between the channel members, in which position the member 11 is disposed at a slight angle to the member 10 as clearly shown in Fig. 4 to prevent thev tensioningof the short lengths ot conductors, which it will be apparent would occur of the movement upwardly of the member 11 was parallel to the member 10.

For returning the wedging members to their normal telescoped or closed position, the pawl 35 is moved'manually half a turn in order to render4 the crank 36 effectively in a direction opposite to that above described. The movement of the nuts 1,6 and 17 away from each other moves the main levers into the position indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 1, in which 'position the free end portions of the levers re-engage their respective cam arms which are now rotated against the tension ot springs 30 and 31 into a position substantially parallel to the length of the channel members, also shown in dotted outline. The slots 24 and 25 in which the pins 22 and 23 are guided are made of such a length as to permit the movement of the levers 18, 19, 2O and 21 toa substantially horizontal position. when the channel members are telescoped. Where working space is ample the crank 36may be rotated to operate the screw 12 in either Adirection, but in the case of limited working space or interference otherwise the screw may be operated also in either direction by oscillating the crank 36 through the use of the ratchet and pawl arrangement hereinbet'ore described. In addition other arrangements might be employed for operating the screw 12,

lVhat is claimed is 1. A tooly comprising a plurality ot members, one of which is telescopic relative to the others, the plurality of members normally forming a comparatively narrow edge at .one end for insertion between two elements, a linkage reciprocally and pivotally connected at opposite ends to each of the members, and means operatively associated with the members and operatively connected to the linkage for causing a relative movement between il the members to separate the cooperating narrow edges thereof.

2. A tool comprising a plurality of members normally forming a comparatively narrow edge at one end for insertion between two elements, a linkage reciprocally and pivotally connected at opposite ends to each of the members, revolvable means operatively associated with the members, means for transmitting motion from the revolvable lll.)

ICS'

1,soo,sa4

l means to the linkage for causing a relative `arated movement between the members to se arate the cocperating narrow edges thereo and means or operating the revolvable means.l f

3. A tool comprising a plurality of mmbers normally forming a comparatively narrow edge at one end for insertion between two elements, a linkage pivotally connected to the members, means operativel associated with the members and operative y connected to the linkage'for causing a relative movement between the members to separate the cooperating narrow edges thereof and means operativel associated with the linkage normally' ten( ing to actuate it to an operative position.

4. A tool comprising a plurality of members normally forming a comparatively narrow edge at one end for insertion between two elements, a pluralit of links reciprocally and pivotally connecte at opposite ends to seportions of the members and means carried y one of the members and operatively connected tothe linkage for causing a relative movement between the members to sep arate the cooperating narrow edges thereof.

5. A tool comprising a pair of members normally forming a comparatively narrow edge at one end for insertion between two elements, a compound screw operatively associated with the members, means for rotating the screw, and a'pluralit of actuating means for the members, opera le in reverse directions through the movement of the screw for separating the members.

6. A wedging tool comprising a pair .of members normally forming a wedge at one end for insertion between two elements, a compound screw operatively associated with the members, means for rotating the screw, a plurality of levers associated with the members,

means for transmitting motion from the screw to the levers tov move them in a path longitudinalllyl of the members2 and means dise path for changlng the direction of movement of the levers for causingv a relative movement between the members to sep'- arate the cooperating wedge ends thereof.

`7. A' wedging tool comprising a pair of members normally forming'a wedge at one end for insertion between two elements, a compound screw operatively associated with the members, means for rotating the screw in either direction, a plurality of levers Aengaging the members, means for transmitting mo- I tion from the screwv to the levers, cumming arms normally disposed in engageable relation with the levers and effective upon a limi ted movement thereofv for separating the c0- operating wedge ends of the members, and means for holding the arms in position wherein the rotation of the screw in one Adirection is etfective to cause the engagement ofthe arms by the levers for closing the members. i

8. A wedging tool comprising a pair of members normally forming a wedge Aat one end for insertion between two elements, a plurality of actuating means for the memrs, a compound screw )ournaled upon one ofthe members, means for rotating the screwv in either direction comprisin a ratchet wheel mounted on the screw, a han e and a reversible awl for transmitting motion from the han e to the wheel, and a pluralit of elements operable inreverse directions or trans- -mitting motion from the screw to the actuating means to separate the members. 9. Av wedging tool comprising a pair o telescopic channel members noi-mall forming a wedge at one end for insertion tween two elements, a differentially threaded screw journaled upon one of the members, means for rotating the screw in either direction comto cause the re-engagement of the arms by the levers for telescoping the members.- i

10. A tool for se arating elements` comrising a plurality o element engagin memers normally forming a com aratlve y narrow edge at one end for insertlon between the elements, a linkage interconnecting the members designed upon actuation to cause a relative inclined separation of the members, the members being closer at their narrow edges uppn separation, and means for actuating t e lin age. 4

In witness whereof, Iv hereunto subscribe my name this 27 th day of September, A. D. 1926.

' WILLIAM FREDRICK HAACK. 

